When Mayor Karen Bass took office in mid-December, she led with a firm stance that Los Angeles’ unhoused population deserved significant attention and that the homelessness crisis would be top of mind for her administration. Bass’ Inside Safe program is designed to move people indoors and to rid the streets of tent cities and encampments. The mayor promised that, by her hundredth day in office, she would have moved 4,000 people inside – however, by mid-March, that number was at just over 500 people.
How is Bass’ strategy landing with her constituents? Many residents and business owners have praised Bass for her diligence and humanity in moving unhoused people indoors. Amid these early successes, the Inside Safe program has hit snags caused by poor housing facilities and insufficient services and personnel to care for the unhoused folks they are relocating. Plus, the root causes of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis – from soaring costs to a lack of affordable housing – are going to take far longer than one hundred days for Bass to chip away at. That said, Bass has been granted special ‘pro-housing’ designation by Governor Gavin Newsom, a move that should make it easier for her to receive state funds for construction.
In addition, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has reported that the number of unhoused people in the county is beginning to plateau, the first positive signal in years. An additional report went a level deeper and uncovered a painful reality – about 50% of unhoused people in Los Angeles are experiencing chronic homelessness.
Repeated instances of homelessness have a number of causes. Still, given how prominent homelessness is in our county, it is worth acknowledging that those unable to remain in stable housing need more than just a roof over their heads. They need to learn how to make decisions, how to navigate social services, and how to care for themselves, among other things. Providing an individual with shelter is an incomplete solution. We believe that it is only through providing comprehensive wraparound services that Mayor Bass will begin to make an impact on the homelessness crisis. Unhoused people need more than an interim solution – they need stable, long-term solutions.
We are also strong proponents of supportive housing. As Los Angeles continues to be a painful case study in the homelessness crisis, we see a way out of the cycle of poverty when families and individuals find stability in relationships and support through a transitional program.
With these beliefs in mind, Maryvale created the Seton House program for unhoused mothers and their young children. At Seton House, we provide temporary housing, childcare, and a suite of life-affirming services to instill confidence and build the life skills women need to seek permanent housing solutions on their own. Our comprehensive services provide life-saving resources for mothers and for their children to prevent the next generation from suffering through generational poverty, homelessness, and the many life complications that are associated with housing instability. Learn more about Seton House
